Death is the irreversible cessation of all biological functions that sustain an organism. As it pertains to human life, death is an irreversible process where someone loses their existence as a person. Different people have different responses to the idea of their deaths, and philosopher Galen Strawson writes that the death that many people wish for is an instant, painless, unexperienced annihilation. In this unlikely scenario, the person dies without realizing it and without being able to fear it. One moment the person is walking, eating, or sleeping, and the next moment, the person is dead.
As death approaches, you may drift from sleep into unconsciousness, much like being in a coma or dream state. You may wake up later, unaware that you were unconscious. Toward the end, you’ll remain in this unconscious state of extended rest. Research suggests that even as your body transitions into unconsciousness, it’s possible that you’ll still be able to feel comforting touches from your loved ones and hear them speaking. Touch and hearing are the last senses to go when we die.
For many who do die gradually, there’s a final, rapid slide that happens in roughly the last few days of life—a phase known as “active dying.” During this time, people tend to lose their senses and desires in a certain order. “First hunger and then thirst are lost. Speech is lost next, followed by vision. The last senses to go are usually hearing and touch” . As dying progresses, the heart beats less strongly, blood pressure falls, skin cools down, and nails become dusky. Internal organs function less as blood pressure drops. There may be periods of restlessness or moments of confusion, or just gradually deepening unconsciousness.
It is important to note that dying is a natural process that unites us all, and for many people, it is peaceful. The person may not always recognize others and may lapse in and out of consciousness. Some people have phases where they wake again and can talk, and then slip back into unconsciousness. There can be a change in color, in circulation, or in breathing patterns as the body begins to ‘let go’ of life.
It is difficult to know what dying feels like, and we have no proven way to investigate what people experience during dying. Recent research shows that, even close to death, the unconscious brain responds to noises in the room. We don’t know how much sense music or voices make to a dying person, however. Knowing the pattern of ordinary dying and recognizing its stages helps companions to understand what they’re witnessing.
